Configurable strap

ABSTRACT

A configurable strap in connection with a bag or similar device is provided. In some embodiments, the bag includes a first mount point and a second mount point and the configurable strap is configured to couple to the first mount point and the second mount point in different configurations to form an across the body strap, a shoulder length strap, a small handle strap, or a clutch length strap.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/696,238 filed Jul. 10, 2018 and titled “CONFIGURABLE STRAP.” U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/696,238 is hereby fullyincorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a configurable strap inconnection with a bag or similar device.

BACKGROUND

Current bag strap designs have limited size options or require multipleseparate distinct straps to accommodate customer demand for differentcarrying lengths. These limitations require customers to either keeptrack of multiple straps or settle for carrying the attached bag orsimilar device at an inconvenient length.

In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improvedsystems and methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a configurable strap according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a configurable strap according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a configurable strap according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bag for use in conjunction with a configurablestrap according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bag and a portion of a configurable strap accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a bag and a portion of a configurable strap accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a bag and a portion of a configurable strap accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a bag and a configurable strap according to anexemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a bag and a portion of a configurable strap accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein indetail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention. It is not intended to limit the inventionto the specific illustrated embodiments.

Embodiments disclosed herein include a convertible strap. Theconvertible strap can include two distinct portions that can beselectively coupled together or selectively coupled to a bag or similardevice to change the length of the strap and adjust the carrying styleof the bag.

FIG. 1 is view of a convertible strap 20 in accordance with disclosedembodiments. As seen in FIG. 1 the convertible strap 20 can include afirst strap portion 22 removably coupled to a second strap portion 24.FIG. 2 is a view of the first strap portion 22. As seen in FIG. 2, thefirst strap portion 22 can include an adjustable section 26 and clasps28 on opposing ends of the first strap portion 22. The adjustablesection 26 can be manipulated to lengthen or shorten the first strapportion 22 as known by those having ordinary skill in the art. FIG. 3 isa view of the second strap portion 24. As seen in FIG. 3, the secondstrap portion includes a single section that is shorter than the overalllength of the first strap portion 22 and claps 28 on opposing ends ofthe second strap portion 24. In some embodiments, the second strapportion 24 can include an adjustable section similar to the adjustablesection 26 of the first strap portion 22. Various embodiments for theclaps 28 are contemplated, including but not limited to, loopconnectors, hooks, lobster claws, spring rings, fold over clasps,magnets, buttons, and other known clasp types in the art.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a bag 30 for use in connection with theconvertible strap 20 in accordance with disclosed embodiments. As seenin FIG. 4, in some embodiments the bag 30 can resemble a plush toy orsimilar designed character. However, it should be noted that theconvertible strap 20 can be used in connection with additional bagdesigns known in the art.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are views of the bag 30 being used in conjunction withthe convertible strap 20. As seen in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 the second strapportion 24 can be decoupled from the first strap portion 22 and theclasps 28 of the second strap portion 28 can be jointly coupled to asingle mount point on the bag 30. In such embodiments as shown in FIG. 5and FIG. 6, the second strap portion 24 can form a wristlet so that thebag 30 can be used as a clutch. As seen in FIG. 7, in some embodiments,the clasps 28 of the second strap portion 24 can be coupled to differentmount points on opposite sides of the bag 30 to create a small handlestrap.

FIG. 8 is a view of the bag 30 being used in conjunction with the entireconvertible strap 20. As seen in FIG. 8, a first one of the clasps 28 ofthe first strap portion 22 can be coupled to a first mount point on thebag 30, a second one of the clasps 28 of the first strap portion 22 canbe coupled to a first one of the clasps 28 of the second strap portion24, and a second one of the clasps 28 of the second strap portion 24 canbe coupled to a second mount point on the bag 30. In some embodiments,the second mount point on the bag 30 can be on an opposite side of thebag 30 from the first mount point. In such embodiments as shown in FIG.8, the second strap portion 24 can form an across the body length strapso that the bag 30 can be worn across a user's body.

FIG. 9 is a view of the bag 30 being used in conjunction with theconvertible strap 20. As seen in FIG. 8, the second strap portion 24 canbe decoupled entirely from the first strap portion 22 to form a smallertotal length strap, a first one of the clasps 28 of the first strapportion 22 can be coupled to a first mount point on the bag 30, and asecond one of the clasps 28 of the first strap portion 22 can be coupledto a second mount point on the bag 28. In some embodiments, the secondmount point on the bag 30 can be on an opposite side of the bag 30 fromthe first mount point. In such embodiments as shown in FIG. 9, thesecond strap portion 24 can form a shoulder length strap so that the bag30 can be worn on a single shoulder of a user's body.

The present disclosure can also be directed to methods for altering theconvertible strap 20 to from different lengths and handle styles for usewith the bag 30. For example, the claps 28 can be coupled and decoupledfrom each other and various mount points on the bag 30 as describedherein to from at least a wristlet length strap, a handle length strap,a shoulder length strap, and an across the body length strap.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation withrespect to the specific system or method described herein is intended orshould be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover all suchmodifications as fall within the sprit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A configurable strap comprising: a first strapportion having an adjustable section, a first clasp on a first end ofthe first strap portion, and a second clasp on a second end of the firststrap portion opposite the first end of the first strap portion; and asecond strap portion a third clasp on a first end of the second strapportion, and a fourth clasp on a second end of the second strap portionopposite the first end of the second strap portion, wherein the firstclasp and the third clasp are configured to couple together to jointogether the first strap portion and the second strap portion, whereinthe first clasp, the second clasp, the third clasp, and the fourth claspare configured to connect to a bag mount point wherein manipulation ofthe adjustable section is configured to increase or decrease a firstlength of the first strap portion, and wherein the second strap portionhas a second length that is less than the shortest possible value forthe first length of the first strap portion.
 2. The configurable strapof claim 1 wherein the first clasp, the second clasp, the third clasp,and the fourth clasp include loop connectors, hooks, lobster claws,spring rings, fold over clasps, magnets, or buttons.
 3. A systemcomprising: a configurable strap; and a bag having a first mount pointand a second mount point, wherein the configurable strap is configuredto couple to the first mount point and the second mount point indifferent configurations to form an across the body strap, a shoulderlength strap, a small handle strap, or a clutch length strap.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3 wherein the configurable strap includes a first strapportion, a first clasp on a first end of the first strap portion, asecond clasp on a second end of the first strap portion opposite thefirst end of the first strap portion, a second strap portion shorterthan the first strap portion, a third clasp on a first end of the secondstrap portion, and a fourth clasp on a second end of the second strapportion opposite the first end of the second strap portion.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4 wherein, when the first clasp and the third clasp arecoupled together to join together the first strap portion and the secondstrap portion, the second clasp is coupled to the first mount point, andthe fourth clasp is coupled to the second mount point, the configurablestrap forms the across the body strap.
 6. The system of claim 4 wherein,when the first clasp and the third clasp are disconnected to separatethe first strap portion and the second strap portion, the first clasp iscoupled to the first mount point, and the second clasp is coupled to thesecond mount point, the configurable strap forms the shoulder lengthstrap.
 7. The system of claim 4 wherein, when the first clasp and thethird clasp are disconnected to separate the first strap portion and thesecond strap portion, the third clasp is coupled to the first mountpoint, and the fourth clasp is coupled to the second mount point, theconfigurable strap forms the small handle strap.
 8. The system of claim4 wherein, when the first clasp and the third clasp are disconnected toseparate the first strap portion and the second strap portion, the thirdclasp and the second clasp are both coupled to either the first mountpoint or the second mount point, the configurable strap forms the clutchlength strap.
 9. The system of claim 4 wherein the first clasp, thesecond clasp, the third clasp, and the fourth clasp include loopconnectors, hooks, lobster claws, spring rings, fold over clasps,magnets, or buttons.
 10. The system of claim 4 wherein the bag resemblesa plush toy or character.
 11. A method comprising: coupling together afirst strap portion and a second strap portion; coupling a first end ofthe joined together first strap portion and the second strap portion toa first mount point of a bag and a second end of the joined togetherfirst strap portion and the second strap portion to a second mount pointof the bag to form an across the body strap.
 12. The method of claim 11further comprising: decoupling the first end of the joined togetherfirst strap portion and the second strap portion from the first mountpoint and the second end of the joined together first strap portion andthe second strap portion from the second mount point; decoupling thefirst strap portion and the second strap portion; and coupling a firstend of the first strap portion to the first mount point and a second endof the first strap portion to the second mount point to form a shoulderlength strap.
 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising: decouplingthe first end of the joined together first strap portion and the secondstrap portion from the first mount point and the second end of thejoined together first strap portion and the second strap portion fromthe second mount point; decoupling the first strap portion and thesecond strap portion; and coupling a first end of the first strapportion to the first mount point and a second end of the first strapportion to the second mount point to form a shoulder length strap. 14.The method of claim 11 further comprising: decoupling the first end ofthe joined together first strap portion and the second strap portionfrom the first mount point and the second end of the joined togetherfirst strap portion and the second strap portion from the second mountpoint; decoupling the first strap portion and the second strap portion;and coupling both a first end and a second end of the second strapportion either to the first mount point or the second mount point toform a clutch length strap.